[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification,
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant
information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous
consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been
received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such
an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign
Relations Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Washington, DC.
Hon. James E. Risch,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 25-06,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $900 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 25-06
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer, Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1), of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Japan.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $750 million.
Other $150 million.
Total $900 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to one hundred fifty
(150) Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I missiles.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: MK 21 Mod 3 Vertical Launch System
(VLS) canisters; component parts and support equipment;
continued Engineering, Integration and Test (EI&T) materiel
and support required to produce the SM-6 Block I missiles;
special test and handling equipment; training and training
equipment and aids; technical publications and data; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering and technical
assistance, including related studies and analysis support;
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-AVJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-AUQ, JA-P-AUW.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: January 31, 2025.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
Policy Justification
Japan--Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I Missiles
The Government of Japan has requested to buy up to one
hundred fifty (150) Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I
missiles. The following non-MDE items will also be included:
MK 21 Mod 3 Vertical Launch System (VLS) canisters; component
parts and support equipment; continued Engineering,
Integration and Test (EI&T) materiel and support required to
produce the SM-6 Block I missiles; special test and handling
equipment; training and training equipment and aids;
technical publications and data; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering and technical assistance, including
related studies and analysis support; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $900 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a major ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific
region.
The proposed sale will improve Japan's capability to meet
current and future threats by allowing the Japan Maritime
Self Defense Force (JMSDF) to deploy the latest Standard
Missile capabilities from their current and future AEGIS
Weapon System (AWS) equipped surface combatants. The proposed
sale will further enhance Japan's capability to protect Japan
and local allied land forces and will significantly improve
Japan's contribution to integrated air missile defense in the
Indo-Pacific region. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing
these articles and services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located
in Camden, AR. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware
of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this
potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Japan.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 25-06
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) is a surface Navy anti-air
missile that provides area and ship self-defense. The missile
is intended to contribute to raid annihilation by destroying
manned fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial
systems (UAs), land attack cruise missiles, and anti-ship
cruise missiles in flight. It was designed to fulfill the
need for a vertically-launched, extended range missile
compatible with the AEGIS Weapon System to be used against
extended range threats at sea, near land, and over land. The
SM-6 combines the tested legacy of Standard Missile-2 (SM-2)
propulsion and ordnance with an active radio frequency seeker
allowing for over-the-horizon engagements, enhanced
capability at extended ranges, and increased firepower.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures that
might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Japan can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This
proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign
policy and national security objectives outlined in the
Policy Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Japan.
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